A SHOW of solidarity with Kelty Hearts’ loan star Max Kucheriavyi was made at Ochilview ahead of their game with Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night.

Before kick-off, both teams and the match officials stood side-by-side with the flag of the 19-year-old’s Ukrainian homeland, which was followed by a minute’s applause to show unity with the people affected by Russia’s invasion of the country.

The public address system also encouraged supporters to donate to an online fundraiser that St Johnstone player Kucheriavyi, who conducted an interview with his parent club that was released yesterday, has started to raise money for charities helping those impacted by the conflict.

On the pitch, the attacking player produced a man-of-the-match performance in Kelty’s 1-0 win, courtesy of Nathan Austin’s stoppage-time winner, who described his team-mate as “a special talent”.

Post-match, Kucheriavyi, who was born in Kyiv and has family back in Ukraine, wanted to speak about football but Kelty’s assistant manager, Kevin McDonald, said that it was important that the club continued to show that he has their support.

“It was nice to show that we’re supporting him and we’re all there if he needs us for anything,” he told Press Sport.

“We try and not go over and over it, because I imagine everybody is, so as long as he knows that we’re there, and we’re there if he needs us, that’s the most important thing.

“I think, arguably, he was probably man of the match on Saturday (in Kelty’s win at Cowdenbeath). He showed the bits of quality that, when there was any football played, he was the one that put his foot on the ball, and again tonight, I can’t actually think of him ever giving the ball away in the whole game. He’s a right good player and he’s got a massive chance.”

Tuesday’s match was a third successive start for Kucheriavyi since he made his debut as a substitute in last month’s home win over the Blue Brazil, only a day after he arrived. His impact was immediate, winning the penalty for Kallum Higginbotham to score the winner, and he impressed again against the Warriors.

“The atmosphere is great, training is good, you obviously see how we play the games, so I’m just enjoying my time at Kelty,” Kucheriavyi said.

“I’m really enjoying playing with this group of players, enjoying working with the gaffer and the coaching staff as well. The football we play suits me, the atmosphere in the changing room is really, really good, and there is everything to win here.

“I will try my best to help the team and contribute as much as I can.

“I’m learning a lot from experienced players we’ve got in the team, I’m learning a lot from the gaffer (Kevin Thomson) because he was a midfielder, and I’m trying to be like a sponge to learn as much as I possibly can.

“He wants the maximum from us. He demands, and I know it’s what the players want and what makes players better. I don’t see any other way; if you want to be as good as you possibly can, you need to demand from yourself and you need to demand from your team-mates as well.”

With Kelty now 14 points clear at the top of League Two – and with a game in hand – Kucheriavyi could have a league winner’s medal at the end of the season but he added: “To be fair, we don’t look at where we are in the league. We just try to win our next game and play game-to-game trying to win. The only way you can win the league is if you win every next game.”

Kucheriavyi has raised £5,323. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/jdyud2-help-back-home.